How to Clean Your Home Gym

Is deep cleaning your home gym part of your weekly chores? Well it should be! Regularly cleaning your home gym not only keeps your space fresh and tidy, but it also helps to maintain the longevity of your equipment and creates a healthier home environment. 

Gym cleaning isn’t limited to vacuuming the floors or wiping some dust. A thorough gym clean will include all your equipment, big and small. Whether you’ve used your treadmill or a set of dumbbells, all equipment should be wiped down after use. This is to maintain basic hygiene and cleanliness. You should also be conducting a deep clean of your equipment every 2 - 4 weeks for proper maintenance and to prevent wear and tear. 

Why cleaning your home gym is important

Regular cleaning of your home will help prevent the spread of bacteria, lowering your risk of getting sick. 

Another major reason why it’s so important to keep your gym clean is to prevent dust-related illnesses.  If your gym is full of dust whilst you’re working up a killer sweat session, then that’s what you’re going to be breathing in, which can lead to serious health issues such as asthma.

How to clean your home gym equipment

Before doing a deep clean of your gym equipment it’s important to wipe everything down with a microfibre cloth. This will trap and remove any dust prior to using sprays and disinfectants, stopping you from spreading dirt and bacteria around the surface.

You should focus specifically on vertical and horizontal surfaces, cleaning from top to bottom. In order for your gym equipment to be properly sanitised the disinfectant must be left long enough to lift the bacteria before it’s wiped away. For maximum effectiveness we recommend wiping down surfaces slowly rather than in one quick swipe. 

Some of the most important equipment and areas to consider when doing a deep clean include, but are not limited to, cardio machines (treadmill, bikes, etc.), free weights (dumbbells, weights, barbells), resistance bands, yoga mats and gym rubber flooring.

weight lifting equipment and rubber gym flooring

1. How to clean your cardio machine

Cardio machines such as treadmills and exercise bikes are quite easy to clean due to having smooth surfaces and screens.

Hot tip: make sure to unplug all your machinery prior to any cleaning, especially when using disinfectants and sprays to avoid any electrical issues.

Treadmills

Start by wiping down the treadmill with a dry microfibre cloth to remove any dust. Don’t forget to wipe down the corners of the machine as well as focusing on the main areas, such as the handles, buttons, screen and treadmill belt. Use a soft-bristle brush to target the belt to ensure all dried mud is removed. This will also make future cleans easier. When wiping down the treadmill belt with a damp cloth, wait until the first half is completely dry before rotating and wiping the other half. Also use a damp cloth to wipe down handles and buttons on the treadmill. Avoid using a soaking cloth when wiping electronic surfaces such as the screen.

Exercise Bikes

Similar to the treadmill, wipe down surfaces with a microfibre cloth to remove dust. Focus your clean on high touch point areas such as the handles, buttons, seat and seat adjuster. Don’t forget to deep clean the pedals as our shoes generally carry quite a bit of dirt and bacteria. Once clean, make sure all surfaces are dry before use.

2. How to clean your free weights

Free weights are generally the easiest items to clean, however during a deep clean it’s important to clean all surfaces and not just the handles. This is because all surfaces become high-touch points with regular use. When using disinfectants 

Focus on the handles of dumbbells and barbells as these are the highest touch points of the weight, and, therefore would have the biggest likelihood of bacteria buildup. Ensure the weights are completely dry before placing them away to avoid moisture damage and an unnecessary build up of bacteria. As for other weights and plates, simply give all surfaces a thorough clean.

3. How to clean your resistance bands

Resistance bands tend to get really dirty and unsanitary, especially when used on bare skin. This is because we naturally carry a lot of dirt and oil on our skin. Due to the material of resistance bands it is more beneficial to fill a bucket with warm water and a few drops of dish soap to dip the bands in when cleaning. Move them around vigorously for around 15-20 sec. Then give them a scrub to remove any stubborn dirt. Rinse the bands off under running water to get rid of all the soap and leave them to the side to dry. Avoid drying the bands out in the sun because this will damage and deteriorate the material.

4. How to clean yoga mats

Like resistance bands, yoga mats then hold onto body oils and bacteria for a long period of time, which is why they need to be cleaned regularly.

Some yoga mats can be cleaned in the washing machine, however this is not the case for them all. We recommend checking the tags before throwing it into the washer. 

If your mat is not machine washable, wipe down both sides of the mat using a damp cloth and let it dry. Mix a solution of warm water and dish soap in a spray bottle and use it for a deeper clean. Use a microfibre cloth to scrub the mat with the solution and rinse it under running water. Lay the mat out to dry completely (on both sides) before rolling it back up to put away.

By cleaning your yoga mats you’ll minimise the chances of developing skin irritations or contracting any viruses/illnesses exposed to the mat. 

5. How to clean rubber gym flooring

Gym rubber flooring should be cleaned frequently as it also holds onto bacteria and dirt. Gym mats come in a variety of materials, including rubber, carpet and hardwood. For any of these surfaces, start with vacuuming the floor to remove any dirt. Once the majority of the dirt is removed you can use sprays and wipes.

A solution of water and a cup of dish soap, as well as a splash of lemon juice (optional), will be effective to scrub down rubber gym mats. Once mopped, allow the mats to air-dry rather than wiping it down with a cloth to ensure a streak-free finish and to avoid a rubber odour forming.  

For carpet flooring it is highly recommended to steam clean every few months (depending on how frequent you’re using your home gym) for a deep sanitisation.

6. How to clean rust off gym equipment

Overtime rust can build up on metal equipment which can deteriorate the quality of use. If left untreated it may result in users needing to buy new equipment. 

To eliminate small amounts  of rust use a mixture of 50:50 water and vinegar to soak or dampen your equipment. After equipment is soaked, use a wire brush to scrub away as much of the rust as possible.

If rust remains after scrubbing, generously spray WD-40 and let it sit for 15-20 minutes to ensure the bonds between the metal and rust are fully broken down. Wipe down your equipment to get rid of residual WD-40 before use. 


Leave a comment

Please note, comments must be approved before they are published